What Have You Being Doing With Your Non-triumph Today?

Took about 10 seconds on Google image search

 

Yes, didn't think to use that until after I'd posted, but then thought it may be good for discussion and comments.
Cheers.

 

Oh my goodness, @learningtofly. I have a whole list of parts and most of them had to be ordered. The nice thing is that my dealership is giving me a 15% discount on the whole order! I'll post my mods here as I get them fitted. Two of the things about which I'm most excited are my Rinehart mufflers which have bronze end caps that match the wheels and bronze touches. The other is a "Kickflip" Le Pera seat which I've customized in a simple (and hopefully tasteful!) fashion. Oh, the other one I'm eager to fit is a KlockWerks Flare windshield. I have one on my Street Glide and love it. I hit 500 miles today on our Mt. Lemmon ride and am going to post a few pics from the day here momentarily.

 

Today's Sunday ride went up Mt. Lemmon. We haven't been up the mountain in a very long time and riding up today made me realize I've missed it and reminded me what a gem Mt. Lemmon truly is. I rode my new H-D Low Rider ST with the "excuse" that I want to get my 500 miles so that I can then ride it with impunity!

This is a map from the base of the road up Mt. Lemmon (known as the Catalina Highway). It's just under 20 miles to the base from our garage and the road up from the base to the top is about 25 miles each way. There were absolutely TONS of motorcycles--and cars and bicyclists--on the road this morning because the weather was glorious.



This was the first time I rode the Low Rider on Mt. Lemmon and it was an absolute blast! I'm loving how this bike handles and feels and it took to the twisties like honey to cornbread...which I had at the restaurant at the summit.

We were pleasantly surprised when we pulled into the parking lot to see that the Iron Door Restaurant was open. I had checked the web page a few days ago and it said they didn't open until 11:00. We arrived at about 9:30 and they were in full swing. Hurray!

There were seven of us today. As usual, I was the only woman. Par for the course. Brands/models represented included one Suzuki GSXR 1000, one Triumph Thruxton, 1 BMW R1250RT, and four Harleys--my Low Rider ST, Steve's Road Glide Special, Russell's Heritage Classic Anniversary Edition, and Chas' Road Glide Ultra.



Johnnie's first time on Mt. Lemmon--but DEFINITELY not his last!



The view from the patio where we had breakfast. This is one of Ski Valley's runs. Ski Valley is a tiny downhill skiing operation and the farthest south of any ski resorts/operations in the United States.



We got a nice table for seven in the corner. There's a lattice "ceiling" on the patio which casts amazing shadows. Fortunately they aren't that noticeable when you're on the patio.



This was the temperature up here as we were eating our breakfast.



And this was the temperature when we arrived home! Cooler than we're used to but not nearly as lovely as 66ºF.



There are about six hummingbird feeders hung along the desk facing the ski run. And many, many hummingbirds all trying to find their perfect spot for a bite to eat. Here's one a of several pics I snapped of some of the hummers we saw.



I checked to see how close I was to hitting 500 miles on my new bike when we parked and put kickstands down in our garage. Five hundred miles for a new Harley is that "magic number that means no more carefully keeping the bike under 3000 rpm's and you can let 'er rip!

Today's miles...



And my total miles on the odometer Official break-in done!



P.S. I forgot to mention that the altitude at the base of Mt. Lemmon is 2,500 feet give or take, and up where we had breakfast is about 8,500 feet! It is a truly glorious road, especially for those of us on motorcycles!

 

What a lovely way to spend your time, Sandi - such a different way of life to what we have over here and so much the better for it (well, save for the excessive heat, which would take a lot of getting used to). That's some collection of Harley's too, I'm bound to say - again, suited to your collective lifestyles over there, with the big roads and big miles.

Sigh... one can but dream

 

We went south for a little Cajun food. Not quite as good as the real stuff in Louisiana but close, really close.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/skN8kpKiVSgsro5N9

 

I have to say, @learningtofly, that I love living in the American West--and the American Southwest in particular. There's a sort of "vibe" here that I don't feel in other parts of the United States. Maybe it's the vastness of the skies and landscape, maybe the adventurous nature of the people (vast generalization, I know, but often holds quite true!). Whatever it is, I love it. And the riding is wonderful, too! You do get used to the excessive heat but, that said, it's currently 101ºF here today and I--and everyone I know--is pretty much done with that for this year. But the mornings are in the 60sºF which is pretty much perfect! And finally, you're right, the big roads and big miles and that "vibe" I mentioned are very well suited to Harleys. I am truly blessed. And I truly appreciate my blessings and am thankful for them.

 

Looks like a fun, down-to-earth place. And excellent Cajun food to boot! Thanks for sharing the photos of your day out, @Traveler.

 

Wow Sandi, I missed that purchase , did this replace your bronze Low Rider ST?

 

Hi, @Dartplayer! Hmmm, I think you might be a whole bike behind. It was my 2021 Fat Boy that was replaced by my new 2023 Low Rider ST. And the Fat Boy replaced the bike that I think you're thinking of, my 2020 Low Rider S. I also had a 2017 Dyna Low Rider S. I traded that plus my 2017 Road Glide Special for my current 2020 Street Glide Special. I looked back over that progression and said to myself, "Geez, just accept that you're a Low Rider rider!"

Here's the 2017 Dyna Low Rider S


And the 2020 Softail Low Rider S

I did get a sad bit of news about this bike. I traded this bike for my Fat Boy (best trade value I ever got!). The guy who bought it from the dealership got t-boned by a car and was very badly injured. He spent 10 months in the hospital. The bike itself was totaled. The guy is ok thankfully. And he got a big settlement so when he started riding again came in to the dealership and bought not only a '23 Low Rider ST just like the one I just bought but also a Road Glide! I did feel quite sad that this beautiful bike is now in a junk pile somewhere.


Here's El Gordo, the Fat Boy that I slid in between the two Softail Low Riders. I sold this bike to my boss who is also is a friend and riding buddy of mine. She's in love with El Gordo. So that was a win-win-win. Win for my boss, win for me, and win for the Fat Boy!


And here's my new(est) Low Rider, the 2023 "Fast Johnnie" ST version. Now I'm the one that's in love!

 

Thanks Sandi, yes remember El Gordo fondly, time is just flying by.
Sad news for your old ride and it’s rider, happening too often with distracted drivers.
Happy new ride

 

Hey @Sandi T, there's me trying to catch up after getting back from the Red Sea and you go and get yourself another new bike

 

Thanks, @Dartplayer! I do miss El Gordo but am loving the Low Rider ST. Four of us just did a little overnight ride to Silver City, New Mexico so I'll post a ride report here in a day or two when I've caught up with work and a couple of other "real world" obligations. Yes, it was very sad news about my old ride and its rider and it is definitely happening WAY too often with today's drivers.

 

Yes, I thought I'd quick buy a new bike while you were looking the other way.

How was the Red Sea??!! Steve and I are heading to Cozumel a week from Saturday for a week of diving and swimming with the fishies!

 

Started the 900ss Ducati to make sure it still runs - hasn't failed me yet. Moved the Honda CT90 from under a tarp at the side of the house to where I cleared some space in the garage at my other house. The Honda will be a winter project.

 

I have been exceptionally busy this week working, but have sourced a replacement upper right OEM fairing for my Fireblade which should arrive next week. (It was cracked when I bought it from the fairing bolts being overtightened and then a month or two ago I had a mishap putting it onto the paddock stand which cracked it further ). I am going to have all of the fairings custom painted. I cannot decide between just as it currently is, but with paint replacing the decals and just a very bright, lovely red shiny paint or having something different done to customise it.

Sadly, artistic talent is not something I possess, but I am toying with the idea of some sort of tribute (not a copy of) to one of the 900RR colour schemes as I like them. I am going to go to the man who did @Helmut Visor's Aprilia tank as his work is incredible and he will I am certain have some great ideas…but any input welcomed, appreciating that the old Blade colour schemes are very much not to everyone’s taste .

I do like the bike red, so thought something using some of the old tricolour combos:

 

Of the 2, I prefer the bottom one as it a more modern design. The top one is very late 80's early 90's.

 

My normal inclination Mrs V is to keep things original. But, a bit of what you fancy does you good or so they say. Go wild.

 

Sorry but original or do it on a second set of panels

 

Sorry to hear of the miss-hap Mrs Visor, happens to us all, I dropped one into a drum kit once , of the 2 pictured, I like the 2nd better. But I'd be torn between the keeping it original dilemma.